Good Security Software

[Mercutio]

Security Software that is not evil.

Don't Use - Software from "big name" security companies. Symantec/Norton, McAfee, Trend, Computer Associates. Every single thing they make, everything they touch, sucks. This is the lesson techs learn over and over and over.

Firewall - Use the one built into Windows XP + an external firewall. Either a NATing router or a smoothwall. Dialup Users? non-XP Windows users? Um... I'd be tempted to say the AVG firewall, but I admit I haven't seen it used for any long period of time.

Antivirus - AVG if possible, Kapersky or NOD32 for users who can't use free AVG.

Anti-spyware, removal - Spybot Search and Destroy, Adaware, Hijack This, SuperAntiSpyware(?), Killbox, Brute Force Uninstall, LSPfix.

I'd also like to single out Microsoft Antispyware as being particularly useless in this category. I've never seen it remove anything on any machine where it's been installed.

Anti-spyware, prevention - SpywareBlaster, Decent Hosts file, Spybot "Immunize" Feature.

Anti-spyware, protection - Webroot SpySweeper, AVG Antispyware. Neither of these are free, but both seem to be worthwhile.

 

[Sol]

I'd pretty much agree with all of that. It constantly amazes me that this stuff isn't common knowledge yet, not necessarily about which spyware removers are good but I can't see how otherwise rational people can fail to notice how terrible Symantec and McAfee products are in particular. The other two you mention used to be passable an are only now truly decending into their true crapness so I can see how they might have been missed. By Symantec have only had good products in the time between them buying them and breaking them and McAfee has been terrible for years......

 

[Buck]

Mercutio, thanks for the tip on Hosts File.

 

[Bozo]

I installed and have been running the host file Merc linked to. One of the things I noticed right away was some adds missing from web pages. Cool!! :-D

The host file seems to work with Vista also, as does Firefox 2.0.

AdAware only found 3 'objects' to remove on the first scan since the host file was installed. Usually it finds 15-20 every few weeks.

Bozo :joker:

 

[Buck]

I did have to amend the host file to allow certain Google features I use to advertise my online store. But that was very easy.